Dennis Jacob VonDeLinde

Dennis Jacob Keith VonDeLinde was born on February 22, 1944, in St. Paul, MN, the oldest of six children born to Jacob and Helen (Borglund) VonDeLinde. Dennis died peacefully on Thursday, January 15, 2026, at the Sanford Tracy Medical Center in Tracy, MN from a stroke. He is survived by his daughter Karen (John) Koupal of Brandon, SD; grandchildren Kelsey of Seattle, WA, Hannah of Bozeman, MT and Brady of Sioux Falls, SD; siblings Richard (Mary) VonDeLinde of St. Paul, Warren (Jeannie) VonDeLinde of White Bear Lake, MN, Nancy (Joe) Polencheck of St. Paul, John (Sue) VonDeLinde of Eagan, nieces, nephews, and extended family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jacob and Helen VonDeLinde, son Brian VonDeLinde, brother Jim (Diane) VonDeLinde and nephew Daniel VonDeLinde.

Dennis grew up in the East side of St. Paul and enjoyed fun times playing hockey in their homemade rink in the back yard, exploring caves on the river banks and spending summers fishing and getting into mischief at Linden Grove Resort on Deer Lake with his siblings and cousins. Dennis graduated from Harding High School in St. Paul in 1962. He then enlisted and served in the U.S. Navy from 1964 – 1967 in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. In 1967, he was united in marriage to Judith Hart. To this union were born two children, Brian and Karen. Dennis worked for a variety of employers including Borgie’s Station in Wright, MN as a teenager, drafting for 3M Company, farming in Wright, MN, construction in Duluth, MN and, sales for Savamco in McGregor, MN.

Dennis was strong willed and stubborn at times, but also had a quick wit and loved to tease family and friends. He was clever and full to the brim with knowledge that he’d gained through life experiences: car tinkerer, farmer, handy-man, sweet talker. He could fix or build anything he put his mind to and loved to show off his home improvement projects, model ships, paintings and garden harvests. He enjoyed remodeling homes and built the family cabin on Tamarack Lake in the 1970’s where many fond family memories were made. Dennis enjoyed driving the speedboat and pontoon and pulling kids on skis trying his best to “dump” them in the lily pads! Dennis loved to drive whether it was in a shiny Cadillac or a dusty older motorhome. He usually took the long way around no matter the destination (much to the chagrin of his family). In his later years, Dennis could be found outside cleaning up the yard or gardening in the spring, on his pontoon or sitting lakeside by the camper in the summer and watching football and farm documentaries in the fall and winter (usually with a big bowl of mint chip ice cream in his hand. SKOL Vikings!). He also enjoyed watching NASCAR, golf, and Bob Ross on PBS. He also spent time painting landscapes, listening to classic country music, solving puzzles and spending time with his rescue pets.

Dennis’ family is grateful for the wonderful care he has received the past few years from Sanford Westbrook Clinic (Kortney Krick, CNP), Sanford Hospital-Sioux Falls, Sanford Tracy Medical Center and the many volunteer drivers from the VA that drove Dennis to various doctor appointments near and far.

There will be a small private service at Fort Ripley in Little Falls, MN honoring him and his time spent in the Navy. In typical Dennis fashion there certainly won’t be any pomp and circumstance! A celebration of life will follow.